Memorial Day Memories

On Friday I received the best news from my husband- he didn't have to work Saturday OR Monday! WOO HOO!! It was a super pleasant suprise! We decided that we should take off for the long weekend and go camping. We decided to set up camp at the Gessner lake because, A: The campsite is free. B: There are no strangers camping feet away. C: My wonderful mother-in-law is a camping queen and has tons of gear and things that we don't have to pack. She also got us all kinds of yummy food! D: We get to spend time with family! We had such a fun weekend and we're already getting excited for the 4th of July get together.

We spent a good portion of our time swimming in the lake. The water was wonderfully warm and we had a great time paddling around and cooling off from the sun. Owen started swimming on his own this weekend (in water wings) in water where he can't touch the bottom. Before, he always clung on to someone's neck when he was in deep water. I was super proud of him for taking such a big step. I would bet that he'll be swimming, water-wing-free, before too terribly much longer. It was so cute to watch him paddling around the lake!

We tried fishing a few times, but it was just too hot and the fish weren't really biting. We did catch a few little fish, but they were few and far between. Eli did catch his first fish though (with Mommy's help) and he was pretty proud of that little fishy.

Stephen and Jacki came down and camped with us, so we had a lot of fun swimming, fishing, eating and drinking with them. The boys enjoyed paddle boat and four-wheeler rides with their Uncle Stephen.



We also snuck away on Sunday afternoon and spent a couple of hours with Kelly, Lyle and this adorable little guy! He is suuuuccch a cutie and he has the longest arms and legs you've ever seen on a baby!

This was such a fun and relaxing weekend- and I'm super thankful for our wonderful camping hosts :)

Graduate (n.)

It's over- and this mama made it through with no tears at all. Thanks to an unorganized someone- I couldn't even see my boy as he stood on the second riser behind two kiddos taller than him- even one riser down, and between two girls who were more than a head taller than him. Also, thanks to the fact that someone thought that it would be a good idea to give the actual diploma to a three year old and then make him go sit on the gym floor for 10 minutes- we have about 39 (pieces of) diploma(s). I left feeling mad and disappointed.

(He's in the second row behind the boy in plaid and the girl in the flowered dress)

But then I got over it. And then we went out for sushi. He didn't get his chocolate fountain, but he did get sushi and LOTS of balloons- so all was right in his world.

Thursday was the end-of-the-year preschool picnic at Hummel Park. We joined all of Owen's friends and teachers for a final farewell before summer. It was a lot of fun and the kids really enjoyed getting to play together one more time.

After the picnic, the boys and I made our way to the zoo for the member's grand opening of the Cheetah exhibit. Owen participated in the highly anticipated, fairly lame "Race a Cheetah" feature, and we got a glimpse of the beloved cheetahs snoozing in the sun.

It was a great end of the school year and I am excited to spend the long summer days with my sweet boys!

Commencement

Every year I go a little crazy when the graduation announcements start coming in the mail... WHO is graduating?? NOT possible! They CAN'T be that OLD yet! You know what I'm talking about- just admit it. This year it was my baby cousins, Kyle, Vanessa, and Mariah. I distinctly remember carrying each of them around when their rears were still in diapers! I've watched them grow up- and now look, here they are, beautiful young adults, GRADUATING from high school. Where does time go???

Then I got the announcement that hit me even harder...

Preschool Graduation

May 26, 2010, 6:30 pm

FOR MY SON!

That's right, my little boy graduates from preschool tonight. They're going to put on a whole program to make weak-hearted mamas like myself sob.

Seriously, where has time gone?

It was last week that I came home Bradford Woods sweaty, sticky- and then came out the bathroom with two pink lines and the biggest smile ever. It was three days ago that I labored for 36 hours and brought a miracle into the world. It was day before yesterday that I sat in a hospital waiting room with my family and friends, biting my nails, and trying to keep my heart beating in my chest while a big chunk of it lay on an operating table with my little boy. It was yesterday that I watched him turn 1, 2, 3...

Where has time gone?

Tonight he graduates from preschool. It's a big step. According to him, it should be celebrated in a big way. He has requested balloons and a chocolate fountain. That's right folks, a chocolate fountain! Anyone have one of those lying around??? He dreams big, that one.

So in love

Dear Nolan,

I haven't loved anyone this much since my own little monkeys made their way into this world. You are perfect.

Love,

Aunt Stephanie

Brown County = Love

We snuck away this weekend and spent the night in a cabin at Brown County State Park. We seriously had the best time!! They just opened an indoor waterpark in the Abe Martin Lodge, and it's absolutely perfect for our little ones! Both boys loved going down the BIG slide and playing in the various fountains and sprayers. Eli took his usual time to warm up to being in the water, but once he did, he loved it. We also had a lot of fun walking around in Nashville and looking at all of the various shops.

We're exhausted and I don't have much more to say, so I'll let the pictures be worth my thousand words :)

I can't wait to go back-- we're already planning a return trip for June 5. (SOMEBODY wants to go there for her birthday!)

PS- I can't wait for our upcoming return to Southern Indiana this week! Our first nephew is about to enter the world and we couldn't be happier. Good Luck Kelly and Lyle- we'll be thinking about you!!

You know you're a mom of boys when...

You open your fridge and find this.

WARNING!

Do not proceed with this post if you are offended by photos of at-home science experiments involving urine, draino, and caustic reactions :)

All right...

Anyone still there??

Good.

Since Sara was about 2 seconds pregnant we have been subjecting her to various gender determination tests to entertain our own impatient spirits. We have done the Chinese gender chart, (boy--- I think), the wedding ring test (girl- fo sho), and now we've also done the Draino and intelligender tests.

Much to Sara's dismay, Todd brought the Draino crystals to dinner last night, and to her even further dismay, we insisted that she pee in a cup so that could perform said Draino experiment. I believe that her quote regarding this event was, "You guys are gross!" Fair enough.

The Draino experiment is said to react with the "girl" or "boy" hormones found in the urine. Supposedly, if the draino/urine combo doesn't change colors, the baby is a girl, but if the draino turns dark green or brown, it is a boy. Okay, here we go.

Draino crystals prior to urine being added

Right after adding the urine

After about 5 seconds

After 10-15 seconds

Did you see the smoke in this last photo?!?!

So the Draino test definitely has clear BOY results. Intelligender also produced a BOY result. (Sorry no pictures of this test- I know how much you wanted to see more pictures of pee!) Sara had an ultrasound this week, but little one decided to keep his/her legs closed for the event- so no solid evidence there, other than I swear that I saw girl parts :)

So I guess there's a 50/50 chance, huh? :)

Okay, so to make amends for the pee pics, here are some funny O&E photos to wrap up this post.

Guacamole Face

Sacked Out!